Andre Thierry and his band Zydeco Magic take traditional zydeco and infuse it with elements of hip-hop, blues, rock, and pop. Andre is an accordion virtuoso and a captivating singer with a smooth soul sound. ReverbNation calls him “a phenomenal talent” and says that “at only 32 years old, he is already a legend.” He and his band won the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Award for Best Zydeco Group in 2008 and 2012. Here’s what Michael Tisserand says in his definitive history, The Kingdom of Zydeco: “Just as Delta musicians took Highway 61 to Chicago and electrified their blues, so did the Creoles and Cajuns migrate to California and establish vital dance communities. Now the California scenes rival anything back home in Louisiana, and that’s due to players like Andre Thierry, a standard bearer for the new generation.” Andre “is among the best of both the West Coast and the Gulf Coast, and he combines youthful vigor with a mature appreciation for his inherited tradition.”

Andre was born and raised just up the road in Richmond. His family was steeped in Louisiana Creole culture and took him to dances that his grandparents held at their church parish, St. Mark’s Catholic Church, which featured the best zydeco musicians Louisiana had to offer, including the late great Clifton Chenier, the King of Zydeco, who, when Andre was three years old, grabbed him by the arms and declared him a future accordion player. At age 12, Andre formed his own band and started performing all over northern California. The band currently includes Jahon Pride on bass, George Jackson on drums, Mark Daniels on guitar, and Dwight Carrier on rub-board, as well as Andre on all kinds of accordions.

If you like zydeco, you’ll revel in this evening of zydeco magic at the Freight.